Des Moines Art Center

A free museum, art school, and sculpture park in Iowa's capital city.

4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 · Des Moines, IA

About Des Moines Art Center

The Des Moines Art Center combines a museum with an art school and an outdoor sculpture park. It was founded in 1948 and holds a broad collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art, and mixed media. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park, a 4.4 acre urban space, features large outdoor sculptures. Visitors can also eat at the on-site café, join audio or free docent-led tours, and take studio art classes for all ages.

#art museum
#sculpture park
#modern art
#contemporary art
#free admission

What's around here?

The closest stops to Des Moines Art Center, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sightseeing
Date Night
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
No admission fee
Stroll 4.4 downtown acres of large outdoor sculpture, including Jaume Plensa's 27-foot figure made of letters.
Transit: reachable by public transit
2.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sports & Outdoors
Rainy-Day Pick
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Under $25
Step inside an 80-foot geodesic dome conservatory, then stroll 12 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens on the Des Moines River next to downtown.
3.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sports & Outdoors
Sightseeing
History Buff
Iowa State Capitol
No admission fee
Tour a five-domed statehouse topped in 23-karat gold, with 29 kinds of marble and a law library ringed by four stories of balconies.
Transit: reachable by public transit
4.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sports & Outdoors
Walnut Woods State Park
Check prices
A quiet river-bottom state park in suburban West Des Moines, known for its black walnut forest and 1930s CCC-era lodge.
4.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sports & Outdoors
Museums
Family Favorite
Living History Farms
Under $25
Ride a tractor cart between working farms of 1700, 1850 and 1900 and walk the shops of an 1876 prairie town.
6.0 mi awayMore like this
Museums
History Buff
John Wayne Birthplace & Museum
Under $25
The restored 1907 birth home and museum of actor John Wayne, with film memorabilia and archives.
24 mi awayMore like this